Enclosed electric switch with rotary type operating handle and interlocking mechanism



y 21, 1964 N. R. BEAUDOIN ETAL 3, 1,934

ENCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH ROTARY TYPE OPERATING HANDLE AND INTERLOCKING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.I

I I I p- "I0 I I 12 Mn I I I I I I I I I l I l l g I L 4 '2' I I I I I l--- J I/vvavrms. NORMAN R. BsAunom, LOUIS T. STEGMAIER BY fiMJ (FA/ July 21. 1964 N. R. BEAUDOIN ETAL ,934

ENCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH ROTARY TYPE OPERATING HANDLE AND INTERLOCKING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6

INVENTORS.

NORMAN R-BEAunom, Louls T. STEGMAIER A TTORNE Y United States Patent )fi ice 3,141,934 Fatented July 21, 1964 3,141,934 ENCLGSED ELECTRIC SWKTCH WITH RUTARY TYPE UPERATING HANDLE AND INTERLOCK- ING MECHANISM Norman It, lllieautloin, Sonthington, and Louis T. Stegmaier, Plainviiie, Conn, assignors to General Eiectric Company, a corporation of New Yorh Filed Sept. 15, 196i, Ser. No. 138,364 4 tllaims. (Cl. filth-d) The present invention relates to enclosed electric switches and particularly to enclosed switches of the type incorporating a handle member carried by the switch and projecting through an opening in the enclosure cover and including means for preventing opening of the cover and/ or operation of the switch handle under certain predetermined conditions. More particularly, the invention relates to enclosed switches of the type described which are adapted for use with series-connected fuse devices.

Co'pending application SN. 138,408, filed September 15, 1961, Malota et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses a construction of this general type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction of the type disclosed in the aforementioned application in which the interlocking mechanism is extremely dependable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this type which is less subject to possible breakage by inadvertent attempts to defeat the interlocking mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this type which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and reliable in operation.

In accordance with the invention, an enclosed electric switch is provided having a toggle-type operating mechanism for the movable contacts, and including fuse connectors for supporting and connecting fuses in series with the switch. A manually engageable operating handle, of the twist type, is mounted on an adapting mechanism which in turn is pivotally supported upon the basic switch and arranged to engage the toggle operator of the switch. The interlocking mechanisms provided include a pair of levers pivotally supported on the main mechanism plate and engageable with the hub of the manually operable handle. A first lever provides a cover interlock, and is arranged so that when the handle is turned to a predetermined condition, a bias spring biases the cover interlock lever into a position in which it engages a catch carried by the enclosure cover and prevents opening of the cover.

A handle interlock lever is also provided, comprising a lever pivotally supported on the mechanism plate and spring biased to a position where it prevents the movement of the operating handle from oil to on position. The cover includes a cam portion acting on the handle interlock lever to bias it to a non-interfering position to permit operation of the handle when the cover is closed.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, means is provided for preventing the hinging up of the adapting mechanism when the switch mechanism is in on position, that is when the switch contacts are closed. In this connection an operating slide is provided which engages the operating lever of the toggle mechanism, and notches are provided in the operating slide which must be in a predetermined position that is, the oil position, in order to clear interference lugs carried by the stationary portion of the mechanism.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, means is provided for preventing movement of the switch mechanism to on position while the adapting mechanism is raised to its upper position. For this purpose, the operating slide of the adapting mechanism is provided with an extension which occupies a position when the mechanism is tilted to open condition so as to interfere with and prevent movement of the switch operating mechanism toward the on condition.

It will thus be observed that a switch operating adapting mechanism is provided which (1) prevents opening of the enclosure cover while the switch is in the on position unless anv interlock release is actuated, (2') prevents movement of the manually engageable operating member from ott toward on position while the enclosure cover is open unless an interlock release is actuated, (3) prevents access to the line end of the fuses until the switch is moved to the oli position, (4) prevents movement of the basic switch mechanism toward on position while the mechanism is in the upward tilted position, (5) provides means for padlocking the switch handle in the oli position, simultaneously locking the enclosure cover closed, when the adapting mechanism is engaged and the enclosure cover is closed, (6) provides optional means for padlocking the switch handle in the on position while the cover is closed, and (7) provides means for locking the switch handle in the off position, and optionally in the on position, even though the enclosure cover is open.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of anenclosed electric switch incorporating the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the enclosed switch of FIGURE 1, on larger scale, portions of the enclosure being broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation view of the adapting mechanism of the switch of the invention, taken generally on the lines 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the adapting mechanism shown in the upward tilted position;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the interlocking mechanism as seen from the underside of the supporting plate of the adapting mechanism, and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary View of the stationary latch and the interlocking levers.

In the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in an enclosed electric switch comprising a box or enclosure 10 having a cover ll mounted thereon by hinges 12.

An electric switch operating and fuse-n1ounting mechanism is provided within the enclosure 10 as shown particularly in FIGURE 2 and comprising a basic multi-pole switch 13 having a molded insulating base 14, carrying a plurality of relatively stationary contacts 15 and corresponding movable contacts 16 mounted on contact arms 17 which are carried in common by a contact arm crossbar 18. The movable contacts 16 are adapted to be moved between open and closed circuit positions with a snap action by an over-center snap-acting operating mechanism, not shown, which may be of conventional type such as shown for example in Patent No. 2,937,254, E. A. Ericson, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The operating mechanism is operated by an operating member 19 having an insulating handle portion 20 mounted on the upper end thereof. The member 19 and its insulating handle portion 20 move in reciprocal fashion in an arcuate path between off and on positions, the off position being to the right as viewed in FIGURE 2, and the off position being to the left as viewed in the same figure.

For the purpose of operating the basic switch mechanism including the member 15, with a rotary motion, an actuating and interlocking mechanism assembly is prooneness vided in accordance with the invention, as indicated generally at 21.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, the adapting mechanism comprises a pair of spaced insulating supports 22 having a pair of generally L-shaped metallic brackets 23 mounted thereon. The brackets 23 are mounted on the supports 22, and both of these are held to the insulating base 14 of the switch 13, by means of elongated screws 24 which pass through these members and threadedly engage the back wall of the enclosure 11 The screws 24 thereby serve not only to mount the brackets 23 and supports 22 in place on the basic switch 13, which in turn supports the adapter mechanism 21, but they also mount the switch 13 in place on the back wall and electrically connect or ground the handle operating mechanism 21 to the enclosure 10.

A pair of insulating shield plates 25 are mounted on the brackets 23 by suitable means such as by insulating rivets 26. Th insulating shield plates 25 serve to shield the metallic parts of the support brackets 23 and the adapter mechanism 21 from direct exposure to are products from the movable contacts. The adapter mechanism 21 proper includes a generally channel-shaped supporting plate 27. The plate 27 is pivotally supported on the angle plates 23 by means of short pivot pins 28 (see particularly FIGURE 4) located at the back or left hand end of the adapter plate as viewed in FIGURE 2. The plate 27 is further supported on the brackets 23 by a second pair of pins 29 in the side portions of the plate 27. The pins 29 are adapted to rest in generally \l-shaped notches 38 in the upright side portions of the brackets 23.

The pairs of pins 28 and 29, in addition to their function of supporting the main plate 27 of the adapter mechanism 21, also serve to slidably support a main insulating operating plate or slide 31 which is generally rectangular in shape and which rests in part upon these pins. The insulating operating slide 31 is further guided in sliding movement, particularly against upward movement, by depending portions 32 of a downwardly bent back wall 33 of the main supporting plate 27, as shown particularly in FIGURE 3. The plate 31 is supported against upward movement in part by an operating arm of the manually engageable mechanism, to be described.

When the adapting mechanism is in its normal position as shown in FIGURE 2, for example, the plate 31 receives the insulating portion 20 of the operating member 19 within a hole or opening 34 generally centrally of the plate 31 (see FIGURE 4).

The operating plate or slide 31 is adapted to be moved in reciprocating fashion by manual operating mechanism including a manually engageable operating handle 35. The handle 35 includes a boss portion, not shown, extending through a circular opening, not shown, in the plate 27. The boss portion, in turn, has an offset operating arm 36 attached thereto by means of screws 36', see FIGURE 5. While only two screws 36' are utilized to mount the arm 36 on the boss of the handle 35, four equally spaced holes are provided in the central portion of the arm 36, to permit mounting of the switch in any selected one of four 90-degrees separated positions, while the external handle maintains a predetermined unchanged position. The olfset arm 36 has its end portion connected by a pin-and-slot connection to the plate 31 by means of a headed pin 37 extending into an elongated slot 38 in the plate 31 (see FIGURE 4).

A tension spring 36a is also provided, extending between the pin 37 and an opening 36b in the plate 31. This provides a biasing action maintaining the handle 35 and the slide 31 in the on or 011 position, and prevents accidental movement of the handle when the slide mechanism is in the upward-tilted position.

The manually engageable handle 35 is surrounded by a raised rim or ridge 39 fixedly attached to the cover 11 by suitable means, not shown, and the handle 35 is provided with a retractable locking slide 41 as shown particularly in FIGURE 3. The locking slide 413 has an elongated opening 41 therein, and the rim 39 is provided with a notch 11 to permit the slide 41) to be withdrawn when the handle is in a predetermined position, such as the off position. When the slide 41) is drawn out as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, a padlock such as 42 in FIGURE 1 may be inserted through the opening 41, thereby locking the handle 35 in the particular position. Since the slide 40 also overlies the cover 11, it will be observed that the locking of the slide 41) also results in locking the cover 11 closed.

When the locking slide 40 is pushed inwardly to its retracted position, however, it lies entirely within the outline of the handle 35, which is then free to rotate within the circular rim 39. Rotation of the manually engageable handle 35 carries with it the offset operating arm 36 which in turn operates the insulating slide 31 in reciprocating sliding fashion, to actuate the operating member 13 of the basic switch, moving the contacts between open and closed circuit position.

Tilt-Up and Basic Switch Operation Interlocks The switch base 14 also supports a plurality of fuse connecting terminals 43, there being one terminal for each pole of the switch. A corresponding set of fuse load terminals 44 are provided, mounted on a separate insulating block 45 spaced from the switch base 14, and adapted to receive a plurality of fuses 46 therebetween.

The main supporting plate 27 of the adapter mechanism 21 is positioned and dimensioned so that when in the normal position as shown in FIGURE 2, it overlies the fuse line terminals 43 and prevents access thereto. Thus the safety of the user is increased by deterring him from touching the fuse or line terminals unless the adapter mechanism 21 is in the upwardly tilted position. This, as will be described, cannot be accomplished until the switch is placed in the off condition, deenergizing the fuse terminals.

For the purpose of preventing the upward tilting of the adapting operating mechanism 21 until the basic switch 13 is placed in the oif" condition, interlocking mechanism is provided including a pair of inwardly directed tabs or lugs 4'7 and a corresponding pair of notches 48 cut in the operating slide 31. When the operating handle 35 and the operating mechanism of the switch 13 are in the off position, the slide 31 occupies a position such that the notches 48 are in line with the tabs 47. When the mechanism is turned to the on position, however, the slide 31 occupies a position in which the notches 48 are out of register with the tabs 47, which then overlie the slide 31 and prevent raising the operating mechanism.

When the operating mechanism is turned to oil position and the adapting mechanism 21 is raised to the tilted condition as shown in FIGURE 4, to permit acess to the fuse terminals 43 such as for the purpose of changing fuses, it is likewise desirable that the basic switch 13 should be incapable of being moved to the on position, such as by the operator manually moving the insulating handle 21) toward on position. For this purpose, the insulating slide 31 is provided with an end extension 49 which, when the mechanism is in its elevated condition, projects into the path of movement of the insulating member 20 and prevents its movement to on position.

Cover Interlock and Handle Interlock Mechanisms When the switch is in its normal operating condition as shown in FIGURE 2, and has been turned to the on condition, it is desirable that means be provided for preventing the opening of the cover 11 of the enclosure 10 unless a special interlock is first release, or the switch is turned to off condition. In addition, if the switch is in off condition and the cover 11 has been opened, it is desirable to provide means for preventing turning of the switch toward the on condition without first having released an interlock mechanism.

For the purpose of providing these functions in a dependable and mechanically rugged manner, interlocking mechanism is provided in accordance with the invention as shown particularly in FIGURES 5 and 6.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a cover interlock lever 5t) and a handle interlock lever 51 are provided, pivotally supported on a common pivot pin 52 at the inner surface of the main supporting plate 27. In addition, a cover catch 53 is provided fixedly mounted on the inner surface of the cover 11 as shown for example in FIGURES 2 and 6. The offset operating lever 36 carried by the handle 35, is also provided with an enlarged base portion 54 having a first stop shoulder 55 and a cam operating projection 56 for purposes to be described. The levers 5t and 51 project through slots 5'7 and 58 respectively in the end wall 33 of the supporting plate 27, as shown particularly in FIGURE 5. The levers 50 and 51 are inter-connected by a tension spring 59, biasing them toward each other.

When the operating handle 35 is in the oil position, and the mechanism is viewed from the underside, the parts occupy the positions as shown in FIGURE 5. In this position, it will be observed that the handle projection 56 has engaged a cam surface 60 of the cover interlock lever 50 and has rotated the lever 50 to a counterclockwise position, against the bias of the spring 59. At the same time, spring 59 acts on the handle interlock lever 51, and biases the lever 51 in a counterclockwise direction against a portion 61 of the end Wall 33 comprising one boundary of the opening 58, and moving the opposite end 62 into the cutout portion of the hub 54 of lever 36, in front of the stop shoulder 55. This is the condition the parts occupy when the handle is in the off condition and the cover 11 is open.

It will be observed that if it were attempted to move the lever 36 toward on position, the shoulder 55 would engage the end portion 62 of the lever 51, and further movement would be prevented.

In addition, it will be observed that since the projection 56 has engaged the lever 50 and moved it to a retracted position, it would not engage the cover catch 53 when the cover is closed. The cover catch 53 includes a cam surface portion 63 which acts on the end of the lever 51 when the cover is closed to move it to a clockwise position as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 5. When moved to this position, the lever 51 moves so that its end portion 62 is out of the path of movement of the shoulder 55, and motion of the member 3d toward on position is permitted.

It will further be observed from this figure that when the lever 36 is turned to the on position, the projection 56 moves away from the surface 56, permitting the lever St) to be moved by the tension spring 59 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in dotted lines, in which it underlies the catch portion 6 3 of the catch 53, thereby preventing opening of the cover 11.

Each of the aforementioned interlocking mechanisms are, however, releasable by the operator. Thus when the parts are in the off condition as shown in FIGURE 5 and the cover is open, the lever 51 occupies a position in which its end 62 lies in the path of movement of the shoulder 55, preventing movement of the handle 36 toward on position as previously described. If, however, the operator wishes to move the handle to the on position for purposes of test, etc., it is only necessary for him to manually move the end of the lever 51 to the right while the handle 36 is turned to on condition.

Likewise when the cover is closed and the parts are moved to the on condition, so that the lever 5t) occupies the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 5 in which it overlies the catch portion 64 of the catch 53, if the operator nevertheless wishes to open the cover Ill, he may do so by rotating the pivot pin 52 by means of a screwdriver, the head of this pin being made accessible from outside the enclosure through an opening 65, see FIGURE 1, and provided with a screwdriver slot.

' In addition to the above functions, it will be apparent that even when the door 11 is open, the internal switch may be locked in the off position, as shown in FIG- URE 3, for example, by passing a padlock through the opening 41 in the slide 40. Also, if desired, locking can be accomplished when the handle is in the on position by removing a knockout notch filler 66 in the handle rim 39.

As previously mentioned, four mounting holes are provided in the enlarged portion 54 of the operating lever 36, so that the external handle 35 may be mounted in any one of four positions, each displaced from the other by degrees, thus permitting the internal switch proper to be mounted in any of four desired positions although the external handle is maintained in a predetermined desired position. Thus, it is common for example for the on position to be at the top of the circle described by a rotary operator, and for the handle to be rotated counterclockwise in going from on to off.

For the purpose of physically retaining the adapting mechanism 21 in its upwardly tilted position, a pair of detents 67 are provided in the side walls of the supporting plate 2'7 and corresponding holes 68 are provided in the upright portions of the brackets 23. In the upright position, the detents s7 snap over the back edges of the upright portions 23, and when the mechanism is in its closed or horizontal position, the detents 67 snap into the holes 53.

It will be observed that there is provided in accordance with the invention an electric switching combination which provides a number of safety features for the operator and which at the same time provides a high degree of flexibility of use. in this connection, it will be observed that the entire adapting mechanism including the support brackets 23 and the adapting mechanism 21 as a whole may, if desired, be supported independently of the switch 13, such as by brackets from the bottom of the box 61 or from supports projecting laterally from the side walls of the box 10.

While only one form of the invention has been disclosed, it will be readily apparent that many modifications thereof may be made and it is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Electrical control apparatus comprising a supporting base, an electric switch mounted on said supporting base and including a reciprocable operating member, adapting mechanism supported above said electric switch and including a supporting plate, a handle member rotatably mounted on said supporting plate and movable between off and on positions, operating mechanism carried by said supporting plate and operably connecting said rotatable handle member to said reciprocable operating member, said operating mechanism including a slide member, said supporting plate including a pair of downwardly bent opposed side portions, a pair of opposed stationary supports carried by said base, a pivot pin supporting each of said side portions of said plate on a corresponding one of said supports, a pair of guide projections carried by said opposed side portions of said supporting plate and spaced from said pivot pins, said slide member being slidably supported at least in part by said pivot pins and said guide projections.

2. Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 1, Wherein said spaced supports include support surfaces spaced from said pivot pins, said guide projections resting on said support surfaces when said adapting mechanism is in normal position to support said plate.

3. An electric switch comprising a generally planar support, a manually operable handle rotatably carried by said support and movable between on and E positions, a cover overlying said support when in closed position and having an opening therein permitting said manually operable handle to project therethrough, a cover interlocking lever pivotally carried by said support and including a portion extending into interlocking relation with said cover when said lever is in cover interlocking position, means biasing said cover interlocking lever toward said cover interlocking position, a handle interlocking lever pivotally mounted on said support and including a portion adapted to extend into interlocking relation with said manually operable handle when said handle interlocking lever is in interlocking position, means biasing said handle interlocking lever toward said interlocking position, an operating lever connected to said manually operable handle, said operating lever including a first portion adapted to engage said cover interlocking lever to move said cover interlocking lever away from said interlocking position against the bias of said biasing means when said handle is in said off position, said operating lever including a second portion adapted to engage said handle interlocking lever when said handle interlocking lever is in interlocking position and said manually operable handle is moved from said oil position toward said on position, said cover interlocking lever and said handle interlocking lever being pivotally supported on said generally planar support by a common pivot pin, said common pivot pin being rotatably supported on said support, said handle interlocking lever being rotatably supported on said common pivot pin, said cover interlocking lever being non-rotatably mounted on said common pivot pin, and said common pivot pin having a portion thereof accessible to permit rotation of said pin from outside of said electric switch when said cover is closed.

4. An electric switch comprising a generally planar support, a manually operable handle rotatably mounted on said support and movable between on and off positions, a cover overlying said support when in closed position and having an opening therein permitting said manually operable handle to project therethrough, a cover interlock lever pivotally mounted on said support and including a portion extending into interlocking relation with said cover when said cover interlock lever is in interlocking position, means biasing said cover interlocking lever toward interlocking position, a handle interlock lever pivotally mounted on said support, and including a portion projecting into interlocking relation with said manually operable handle when said handle interlock lever is in interlocking position, biasing means biasing said handle interlock lever toward said interlocking position, 168.115 operated by said manually operable handle for engaging said cover interlock lever and moving said cover interlock lever away from said interlocking position when said handle is moved to said oil position, means carried by said cover for engaging said handle interlock lever to move said handle interlock lever away from said interlocking position when said cover is in said closed position, said biasing means biasing said cover interlock lever and said handle interlock lever toward interlocking positions respectively comprising a single tension spring connected between said cover interlock lever and said handle interlock lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,213,124 Hammerly Aug. 27, 1940 2,550,125 Schueler et al Apr. 24, 1951 2,695,934 Wills Nov. 30, 1954 2,894,084 Rexroad et al. July 7, 1959 2,937,254 Ericson May 17, 1960 

4. AN ELECTRIC SWITCH COMPRISING A GENERALLY PLANAR SUPPORT, A MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND MOVABLE BETWEEN "ON" AND "OFF" POSITIONS, A COVER OVERLYING SAID SUPPORT WHEN IN CLOSED POSITION AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN PERMITTING SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE TO PROJECT THERETHROUGH, A COVER INTERLOCK LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND INCLUDING A PORTION EXTENDING INTO INTERLOCKING RELATION WITH SAID COVER WHEN SAID COVER INTERLOCK LEVER IS IN INTERLOCKING POSITION, MEANS BIASING SAID COVER INTERLOCKING LEVER TOWARD INTERLOCKING POSITION, A HANDLE INTERLOCK LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, AND INCLUDING A PORTION PROJECTING INTO INTERLOCKING RELATION WITH SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE WHEN SAID HANDLE INTERLOCK LEVER IS IN INTERLOCKING POSITION, BIASING MEANS BIASING SAID HANDLE INTERLOCK LEVER TOWARD SAID INTERLOCKING POSITION, MEANS OPERATED BY SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE FOR ENGAGING SAID COVER INTERLOCK LEVER AND MOVING SAID COVER INTERLOCK LEVER AWAY FROM SAID INTERLOCKING POSITION WHEN SAID HANDLE IS MOVED TO SAID "OFF" POSITION, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID COVER FOR ENGAGING SAID HANDLE INTERLOCK LEVER TO MOVE SAID HANDLE INTERLOCK LEVE AWAY FROM SAID INTERLOCKING POSITION WHEN SAID COVER IS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION SAID BIASING MEANS BIASING SAID COVER INTERLOCK LEVER AND SAID HANDLE INTERLOCK LEVER TOWARD INTERLOCKING POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY COMPRISING A SINGLE TENSION SPRING CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID COVER INTERLOCK LEVER AND SAID HANDLE INTERLOCK LEVER. 